Monday, 15 October 2012
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On October 7, 2012, the Government of Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front released the Framework of Agreement on the Bangsamoro, which will pave the way for the establishment of the new autonomous political entity, the Bangsamoro, to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The agreement is scheduled to be signed on the afternoon of October 15, 2012, in ceremonies held in Malacañan Palace, witnessed by President Benigno S. Aquino III and Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak.

Government officials led by Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles, and head of the Presidential Management Staff, Secretary Julia Abad, prepare for the visit of Prime Minister of Malaysia Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak and for the signing of the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement on October 15, 2012. The preparations took place on Sunday afternoon, October 14, at Malacañan Palace.

Murad: We will restore normalcy to the lives of the masses of people in Mindanao and Sulu through the framework agreement.
— InterAksyon (@interaksyon) October 15, 2012

Murad: Today we are here to put an end to the adversarial relationship between the Bangsamoro and the Philippine nation.
— InterAksyon (@interaksyon) October 15, 2012

Military and police officials have come out in full force to support the Framework Agreement:image credit avi valte

An October 15, 2012, press release from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles on Sunday welcomed the arrival of Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak, Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary-General Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu, and other foreign dignitaries who will be witnessing the historic signing of the Framework Agreement between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Malacañang today, October 15, 2012.

“I am grateful for their participation in this very significant event which will mark the beginning of peace for the Bangsamoros,” she said. “The attendance of many foreign leaders to the Framework Agreement signing confirms the broad support we have been getting from the international community.”

“The presence of OIC Secretary-General İhsanoğlu and the rest of the OIC delegation indicate their support for the Philippine government’s pursuit of a common development track and vision for the MILF and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF),” Deles added.

Composed of 57 member states, the OIC brokered the 1992-1996 GPH-MNLF peace negotiations that led to the signing of the Final Peace Agreement on September 2, 1996.

Malaysia, on the other hand, has been facilitating the GPH-MILF peace talks since 2001.

Also witnessing the signing rites are leaders and representatives from foreign development agencies who have been supportive of the Mindanao peace process. These include Center for Humanitarian Dialogue, The Asia Foundation, United Nations Development Programme, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Australian Agency for International Development, Conciliation Resources, European Union, United Nations Children’s Fund.

International Labour Organization, World Bank, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, United States Agency for International Development, Muhammadiyah, International Committee of the Red Cross, among others.

Likewise expected to attend are the President’s family, cabinet secretaries, civil society organization heads, and local and national government executives.

The GPH-MILF Framework Agreement is dubbed as the “mother agreement” that serves as a roadmap for the creation of the new Bangsamoro entity that will replace the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.